Cellist Emmanuelle Bertrand and pianist Pascal Amoyel will perform in the Squires Recital Salon Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the School of Performing Arts Visiting Artist Series. The recital is presented in cooperation with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy and its partner Safran U.S.A.
The program will feature Franz Liszt’s Elegie No. 1, S. 130 and “La lugubre gondola” S. 134; Camille Saint-Saens’ Sonata for cello and piano No. 1 in C minor Op. 32; Charles-Valentin Alkan’s “Barcarolle,” Op. 65 No. 6; and Edvard Grieg’s “Sonata for cello and piano in A minor,” Op. 36.
Bertrand was discovered by a wide public when she won the young soloist category at the Victoires de la Musique Classique in 2002. She is considered one of the leading representatives of French cello. As a soloist, she is regularly invited by major orchestras such as l’Orchestre Metropolitain du Grand Montréal, the Ukrainian National Orchestra, Moscow Soloists, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Orchestra Musica Vitae from Sweden, the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, and others.
Amoyel enrolled at the age of 17 at the Paris Conservatory. In 1992, he captured first prize at the Conservatory for piano performance and two years later won first prize for chamber music performance as well. He was awarded first prize at the International Competition of Young Pianists in Paris in 1994. He is best known for his performances of solo piano music by Liszt, Chopin, and Scriabin, and for his performances in a variety of repertory with Bertrand, a duo that was formed in 1999. In 2005-2006 they created “Block 15,” a theatrical concert staged by Jean Piat based on the testimony of two musician survivors from World War II.
The recital is the seventh in a series of nine visiting artist recitals which includes Nicholas Ross, piano, on Jan. 27; and Dennis Mackrel with the Jazz Ensembles April 29.
Watch Amoyel’s video “The 50 fingers pianist” and Bertrand’s video “Cello speaks.”
Tickets for the recital are $15 general, $10 senior, and $5 student. Tickets may be purchased at the Student Centers and Activities Ticket Office on the first floor of Squires Student Center or by calling 540-231-5615. Tickets are also available at the box office beginning one hour prior to the performance.
